A record 98 students in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences presented posters and discussed their summer internships, research, and summer experiences during this year’s Student Showcase of Excellence.
The 12th annual event was held Sept. 6 at the University Farm Pavilion.
“This showcase represents the cream of the crop for our college,” said Antoine Alston, Ph.D., associate dean of academics. “It’s the finest our students have to offer, showcasing their applied learning, and taking what they learned from the classroom out into society.”
Caleb Anderson, a junior agribusiness major in the Dept. of Applied Economics, Agribusiness and Agricultural Education, studied abroad in Belize, where he visited government agencies and numerous farms to understand how local crops are cultivated and distributed.
“We learned about the different cultures in Belize and how agriculture is handled in their supply chain, especially in the poor and rural areas in the country,” said Anderson. “I learned a lot, and I wanted to see what I could compare between Belize and the U.S. I definitely want to go back and see what I could help with what I learned over there.”
CAES students Dkaria Bascom, left, and Alana Holland share their summer internship experiences at the CAES Student of Showcase of Excellence at the University Farm Pavilion.
In a remote internship with Designature Landscape Architects, landscape architecture program sophomore Jacob Thornton completed AutoCAD – 2D and 3D design software – work for subdivisions and townhomes in the Greensboro area.
“I gained a lot of experience about what it’s like working with clients as a landscape architect,” said Anderson, whose program is within the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Design. “It was a really enjoyable experience.”
Anderson also “job shadowed” at LandDesign, Inc. in Alexandria, VA and performed site installation community service in downtown Raleigh as part of his summer experience.
Stephanie Croom, a senior Animal Sciences major, discussed her internship at the Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, an equine facility in Williamston, N.C.
“I learned so much during my internship,” said Croom. “I earned my forklift operator certification from the N.C. Forest Service; worked with the 4-H community in Martin County and taught the kids about horses; and learned so much about using my accounting and critical thinking skills to keep a strategic property maintained.”
Nathaniel Adkins talks shares his experiences studying the economic impact of industrial hemp during his internship in Burlington, Vermont, as part of the CAES Student of Showcase of Excellence at the University Farm Pavilion Wed., Sep. 6, 2023.
In a research study in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, food science and nutrition doctoral student William Oyom worked in the lab of Reza Tahergorabi, Ph.D. on a project analyzing the use of oleogels – gels in which the continuous liquid phase is oil – as a frying medium to reduce fat uptake in deep-fried chicken nuggets.
“The idea is that during deep-frying, there is moisture loss, which allows for fat uptake in fried chicken and may pose potential health implications,” said Oyom. “Coming from Africa, this product is not really consumed as much. But coming here, this project has really exposed me to the numerous diet concerns and diseases in America and has helped me take control of what I eat and what I do with my own diet.”
During the event, Dean Mohamed Ahmedna addressed the students and congratulated them on their summer achievements.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of you,” said Ahmedna. “I’m amazed at the quality of the posters I’ve seen and the diversity of the topics you’ve taken on.”
